Reasonable adjustments at work

[Halona]

Hi all,

First time mum and first time poster!

I am currently 28 weeks pregnant with my first baby and work in the office 5 days per week, im struggling with sitting and standing for any amount of time, my ankles are swollen and my feet are so painful to walk (my heels are numb..not sure if this is common or anyone else has experienced this?) And i also have varicose veins in the top of my legs which are uncomfortable enough without sitting at a desk for 7 hours.

So..my question....has anyone ever had a 'reasonable adjustment' to work from home a few days from their midwife/gp so they try to alleviate some of the above? Or any suggestions on this?

Thanks :)

Yes. Not for the same reasons but because I had a couple of “near misses” driving to/from work because I was tired. GP wrote a “may be fit for work” note that included home working.

I think I'm misunderstanding but if you can't sit or stand what do you want to do? Surely you'd be sitting or standing working from home too?
Would a desk that adjusts to sitting or standing in the office help as you could switch between the 2?

I can sit and stand but not for long periods of time. Yes i would still be sitting or standing at home but i would have more options of places to work and be able to put my feet up (not in the sense of relaxing all day!) . I also wouldnt have to wear shoes whilst working from home which become quite tight during the day. Ive been waiting several weeks for a laptop stand so i dont think requesting an adjustable desk would be a quick solution 🙈

can you do your job from home? if so they should grant it without question as we are in 2023 and WFH is pretty standard across a lot of industries. If your job can be done at home and they dont allow it they are just being dicks tbh

Yes i could do it from home, although i would only want to work from home a few days per week, not full time. I worked from home for almost 3 years due to covid so working in an office 5 days doing 9-5 does seem a bit old fashioned! There are other departments which wfh too and my manager wfh after they have picked up the kids from school so not sure why we have to be in tbh!

What kind of industry is it where you have to wear proper shoes? Is it quite a formal workplace?

We're all in flip flops/fluffy slippers/comfy dungarees at my office.

One of our pregnant colleagues often works lying on a sofa in a breakout space at the moment.

I would just ask, the most they can say is no and they have to explain why, not you, it has to be reasonable why they are making you come in, not just a simple oh we want you in the office.

Speak to your GP and they should able to issue you with a sick note which states "is fit to work with reasonable adjustments". You should also ask your work place to do a risk assessment.
I am 29 weeks pregnant and have been working from home since 20 weeks.

I'm nearly at my due date now but I was the same as you from earlier on due to pgp pain!! I know exactly what you mean about being able to sit/stand/walk etc but having to continuously vary it up! I'm even the same with lying down, I'm up 6 times in the night as I can't do anything for long periods of time.

My work sorted me a work station assessment where an advisor basically talked through my issues and sent a list of recommendations to my employer. One of these was permanent home working on the basis I can vary my positions greater at home and don't have to travel etc. They also recommended a specialist chair which has been amazing and flexible working due to lack of sleep.

Although this may seem like a lot to some, at the end of the day, your employer should facilitate you working for as long as possible & if you're unfit to work because of pregnancy symptoms they cant discriminate you for it! Defo speak to your gp as others have advised if you can't get an in house assessment done.

Prior to pregnancy I was hybrid working so 3 days in the office and 2 from home so not quite the same as you. I let me manager know around 27 weeks that I was struggling with coming into the office as driving for over 30 minutes was flaring up sciatica and I'd feel more comfortable at home where I can sit on my yoga ball and move around a lot. He's been really understanding and just updated my pregnancy risk assessment saying that due to my pain I'll be just in the office one day per week.
I'm not sure how flexible your work or manager is but it might be worth talking to them about it first before putting in a formal request if that might help?

Reasonable adjustments only apply in the case of disability, not pregnancy. That said it is perfectly reasonable to ask for adaptations that will make it easier for you to work whilst pregnant. Ask your company to update their risk assessment and take it from there.

Hiya just to add to this, risk assessment to request the reasonable adjustments you need as usually if company can't make the adjustments they would have to suspend you on full pay. Google HSE risk assessment pregnancy.

I work in HR and im rubbish at family friendly policies and stuff not my soeciality but i never forget this as i had a case where someone was unable to do their role without significant risk (chemicals, hot environment) and we couldnt implement the adjustments they were requesting so she was off for months on full pay.

It would be helpful for GP or midwife letter/fit note but the adjustments are being requested on the basis of risk due to pregnancy rather than sickness.

I am currently off sick due to not being able to sitting at my desk for more than 15 mins without almost passing out and I currently WFH so that's been fun. I am testing things this week to prepare to return and like someone said lying down on sofa is best way to work for me so will be requesting it as an adjustment with frequent breaks if I need to attend a meeting that requires cameras on 😊 so will see what they say, worst they can say is no then I will have to make a decision on whether I stay off or start mat leave early.

Hope you get it sorted ❤️